Tim Henman
The British tennis star who carried a nation's Wimbledon hopes on his shoulders for a decade with his graceful serve-and-volley style.
Born 1974 (age 52)·British tennis player·Birthday: September 6·Generation X
Biography
For years, the first two weeks of July in Britain were synonymous with 'Tennis, and Tim.' Tim Henman, with his classic serve-and-volley game and impeccable sportsmanship, became the focal point of a nation's summer sporting obsession. In an era dominated by baseliners, his attacking style was a throwback, all sliced backhands and crisp net finishes. He navigated the intense pressure of Wimbledon with a stoic calm, reaching the semifinals four times, each run sparking a phenomenon known as 'Henmania.' While a Grand Slam title ultimately eluded him, his success—a world No. 4 ranking, a Paris Masters title, and leading Great Britain in Davis Cup—reinvigorated British tennis. His career proved that a player could be fiercely competitive without courtroom outbursts, earning him lasting respect. In retirement, his insightful commentary and continued involvement in the sport have cemented his status as an elder statesman of the game.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Tim was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Tim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Reached the Wimbledon singles semifinals four times (1998, 1999, 2001, 2002), the first British man to do so in decades.
- Achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 4 in July 2002.
- Won the ATP Masters Series tournament in Paris in 2003, one of 15 career ATP Tour titles.
- Played a key role for Great Britain in Davis Cup, compiling a 40–14 win-loss record in singles and doubles.
Did You Know?
A famous incident at Wimbledon in 1995 involved him being disqualified for hitting a ball in anger that struck a ball girl; it was his first and only default.
He comes from a tennis family; his grandmother was the first woman to serve overarm at Wimbledon.
The hill outside Centre Court at Wimbledon, where fans gathered to watch his matches on a big screen, was informally known as 'Henman Hill' (later also called 'Murray Mound').
He was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2004 for services to sport.
““I've had great support over the years, and the one thing I could always guarantee was that I would go out there and give 100%.””
